Alexander Ilichevsky (b. 1970) is a Russian prose writer and poet. The quadriga “Soldiers of the Absheron Regiment,” which he created over the course of ten years, included the novels “Matisse” (“Russian Booker”), “Perse” (“Big Book”), “Mathematician” and “Anarchists”. In all four stories - with completely different plots - the same way of existence of the hero is presented: an unsuccessful person to one degree or another, at some point in his life, decides to change his fate. Having essentially turned into ashes and ruins, he finds strength for a new, completely different life.